Valtteri Bottas replaces Bruno Senna at Williams

Valtteri Bottas says he is ready to justify Williams's faith after taking Bruno Senna's seat for next season.

The Finn replaces Bruno Senna and will partner Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado, who drove for Williams in 2011-12.

Valtteri Bottas

Born:
28 August 1989, Nastola (Finland)

Height:
1.73m (5ft 8ins)

Lives:
Oxford

Career summary:
Started karting age six

2007:
Started car racing in UK Formula Renault

2008:
Won Formula Renault Eurocup and Northern European Cup

2009:
Third in Formula Three Euroseries, won invitational Masters of F3 at Zandvoort, Holland

2010:
Third in F3 Euroseries, won Masters of F3 for second time; third in Macau F3 Grand Prix

2011:
Won GP3 series

2012:
Williams F1 reserve driver

Bottas, Williams's reserve driver in 2012, said: "I don't see any reason why I can't do well in Formula 1."

Founder and team principal Sir Frank Williams said Bottas was "one of the most talented young racing drivers we have ever come across".

Williams have picked Bottas after a string of impressive performances in many of the free practice sessions this year, when he often matched Maldonado's pace and rarely made mistakes.

Bottas, 23, said in an exclusive interview: "I think that was the key. Many times I was in the same pace as Pastor and sometimes even quicker.

"Sometimes, for sure, Pastor had the edge but that was to be expected - he has already two seasons in the car and knows the team as well. He's a really quick guy and I'm really happy I could match him sometimes.

"I think they have seen I am really quick, I am ready to work hard and to do everything I can to get a lot of points for the team.

"I know and the team has seen that there will be much more to come from my side as I get to drive the car more.

Bottas Q&A

What lessons have you learned from other young drivers who have struggled in F1?

"I have seen how important it is to finish the race. A good example this year was Kimi (Raikkonen) - he finished every lap this year and ended up third in the championship even if the car was not theoretically able to do that. So the main thing is to finish every race and minimise the risks on the track. That should be the priority."

Do you think you could have done a better job for Williams than Bruno Senna if you had raced in 2012?

"Its difficult to say. You never know. That's a really difficult question but I trust in myself so I have to say yes."

Do you admire any drivers particularly?

"There are so many good drivers and there are different drivers who are good in different things. I would love to combine all those things and be the best one day. But it is not going to be easy. It is going to be the first season. The main thing is to be consistent, minimise the mistakes and bring as many points home as possible."

"It is not an easy job doing the Fridays. It is just one session, one set of tyres, job done. And there are always big gaps between the Fridays so it is not easy to keep the rhythm.

"The team has seen I can still improve a lot and we can do good results."

Bottas, who last raced when winning the GP3 feeder series in 2011, acknowledged that he was making a big step up next season.

"I know it won't be easy because you are competing against the very best in the world," he said.

"But once I get into the racing rhythm again I don't see any reason why I would struggle massively. I will keep improving all the time, that's for sure."

Williams said of Bottas that he expected "great things from him in the future".

And Bottas said he believed he could follow in the footsteps of countrymen Keke Rosberg, Mika Hakkinen and Kimi Raikkonen and win the world title in the future.

"I am here only for one reason. One day I want to be the world champion," he said.

"Everyone in Finland will be expecting me to be world champion one day because most of the Finnish drivers have been.

"But I am not going to take any pressure for that. I just think it is really cool that that is the way it is. For sure I will get a lot of support from Finland. It is my goal, too."

Maldonado said he was hoping to build on 2012, when he won his first grand prix in Spain but was awarded a number of penalties for driving errors.

"The goal is to be more competitive next year and have a car that is consistently in the points and challenging for podiums," Maldonado said.

Senna joined Williams this season and finished the season in 16th place in the championship, one place and 14 points behind Maldonado.

The 29-year-old Brazilian, the nephew of the late triple world champion Ayrton Senna, had a best result of sixth place in Malaysia but struggled compared to Maldonado in qualifying, in which he was faster than Maldonado only twice in 20 races.

He has been linked with a move to Caterham next season as team-mate to Frenchman Charles Pic, who's signing was announced last weekend.

Senna is also said to have a small chance at Force India, where former Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari and German Adrian Sutil are considered to be the main contenders to partner Scot Paul di Resta.

No opportunity to comment on Vettel maybe losing the new title? BBC - not good enough!!! Maybe we are waiting for a re - write of "Alonso was amazing but Vettel deserved title" by former F1 driver Jaime Alguersuari? Well let's hope that FIA are brave enough to do the right thing here and penalise Vettel . Things must have improved since Schumacher stole the title from Damon Hill in 94.

The consensus is Williams actually had a very quick car all season and Maldonado and Senna underperformed, the fact Bottas kicked both their behinds when he got to drive kind of proves the point. It will be very interesting to see how he develops next year.

I think Senna will go to Caterham and Kovalienen will head to Lotus. Heiki is too good of a driver to spend his time with Caterham or without a drive. Senna really hasn't set the world alight and has been consistently out performed by his "Pay Driver" team mate. Remember, Senna is there more for his name rather than his talent or money.

Apparently an unpaid driver. Pay drivers are another F1 problem, and further proof that it's not about the driver.Word is that Maldonado brings 55m to Williams whereas Senna only brings 12m. With Maldonado there they can afford to pay a real driver even a prospect.Senna will get a drive where his 12m makes a difference.

Despite Boullier being Grosjeans manager, I think Grosjean could be out of a drive. It just seems peculiar that his position at the team still hasn't been confirmed. I mean, Boullier is his manager so wouldn't he have just confirmed the drive same time as Riakkonen?

@95Unfortunately, these sort of cosy relationships are going on all along the pit lane. RG is managed by Eric Boullier (Team Principal at Lotus) so I would imagine that might help him retain his seat.To be fair, Bruno hasn't really impressed this season and if another driver with the same, or better, backing came along it was always going to happen/

I think F1 is about looking for quicker drivers and Senna wasn't there. I don't think Alguesari would be a gain for any team. He stated in his column how the Torro Rosso wasn't a winning car. Something Vettel didn't know. Or Hulkenberg in the Force India on the weekend. If that's your attitude you are never going to win. A drive in a Caterham, HRT or Marrussia is a fail unless you're new to F1.

Hope Bruno gets another drive. Just needs to sort out his qualifying out.Can't imagine it helps knowing that Bottas' co manager is heavily involved with Williams.Even when he said he would stay out of it I could hear his wallet opening

89 - Schumacher has announced his complete retirement from F1 - meaning he will definitely NOT drive in 2013 and probably from 2014 to the end of all time. And anyway, why would the 7 time WC go to the worst team in the F1 paddock? I can see why RB would but not MSC

A few have mentioned sponsorship money, however it should be noted that Bottas' manager is Toto Wolff, one of Williams' major shareholders. It was obvious he was going to get the drive over one of the other 2, and as Maldonado bought in more money and points Senna was always going to be the fall guy. He might get Caterham or FI (although I'd prefer Kobay myself) but I'm not holding my breath.

Hopes/dreams for next seasonSchumacher to buy out HRT or set up his own team and drive his own car with Barrichello as team mate.Caterham to start scoring points.Sauber to have a great season and win at last.

On the driver front:Think that Force India should be Bianchi and Kovalainen. Don't think that Di Resta has being good enough despite all the hype by Sky and BBC. Caterham think Kobayshi or Senna should get that seat they both deserve to stay in F1. Definitely think Max Chilton deserves a chance at Marussia think he would do well there think he’s ace in GP2.

BBC links

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.